11 August 1862

Speed, James, 1812-1887

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Hillhouse

Requesting a pamphlet copy of the New York State draft law. Docket states that a copy of the law was sent to Speed.

GLC02490.16

circa 1862

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George B. McClellan

Stanton explains why McClellan's request to send "Todd," an officer, to Buell has not been fulfilled. Generals Ripley and Thomas had accused Todd of "habitualy shirking duty," and Stanton had been investigating the matter. Stanton notes that "Genl Thomas acted on my order, and not out of any disrespect to your wishes...."

GLC02490.17

21 April 1887

Porter, Fitz-John, 1822-1901

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [An autobiographical sketch]

Possibly written in New York City. Lists details of Porter's military service. Mentions various civilian careers. Notes "restoration to the army by President Cleveland under authority of act of Congress dated July 1 '86- Commission as Colonel dating back to May 14 1861. Placed on the retired list of the Army as Colonel July 7 1886." Records service as New York City Commissioner of Police 1884-1888.

GLC02494.07

August 1862 - 9 October 1862

Smith, Edmund Kirby, 1824-1893

Autograph document signed

Title: [Proclamation urging Kentuckians to support the Confederacy]

Proclamation that urges residents of Kentucky to support the invading Confederate Army. Smith tells Kentuckians that his troops "come not as invadors, but liberators...to strike off the chains which are being riveted upon you." Promises a just government, protection of private property, fair treatment. Calls on Kentucky to "unite your arms & join with us in hurling back...the Northern hordes who would deprive us of our liberty." Believes Kentucky would never "willingly join in the attempt to subjugate and to deprive us of our property, our liberty and our dearest rights...Are we…

GLC02502

18 October 1861

Giddings, Joshua Reed, 1795-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin D. Morgan

Giddings, U.S. consul general to the British North American Provinces, writes to Morgan, Governor of New York. Encloses a note (not included) from Elliot & Co., a Montreal-based importer of Enfield rifles. There are no Enfield rifles for sale in Montreal, and Giddings advises that arms should be purchased through Elliot & Co. Written on United States Consulate General, British N. A. Provinces stationery. Docket notes, "50,000 Enfield Rifles offered to be furnished at the rate of 3000 per month- Price not to exceed $18.50 delivered in New York City."

GLC02505.20

28 August 1861

Washburn, Israel, 1813-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to H. J. Libley & Co.

Israel Washburn, Jr., Governor of Maine, asserts that blouses for the 7th and 8th Regiments have to be two inches longer. Asks if Libley & Co. factored the extra length into their original offer. Requests more blouse cloth, 250 shirts with pockets, and 1000 drawers. Written on State of Maine Executive Department stationery. One black and white bust engraving of Washburn included.

GLC02505.42

February 25, 1864

Brownlow, William Gannaway, 1805-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain Blount

Plans to leave for Cincinnati on the following Saturday. Referring to Confederate General James Longstreet, writes "Longstreet is retreating up the country. Our forces started ten thousand strong after him on yesterday, and were preceded the day before by a cavalry force. Weather fine."

GLC02467.08

February 3, 1863

Buckingham, William A. (William Alfred), 1804-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to D. R. Wright

Buckingham, Governor of Connecticut, writes to Colonel Wright (possibly Dexter R. Wright) of the 15th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers. Notes that a surgeon [L. Apirt?] of the 1st Regiment Artillery has been transferred to the Regiment under Wright's command. Written on State of Connecticut, Office of the Commander-In-Chief stationery.

GLC02467.09

22 August 1872

Clem, John Lincoln, 1851-1937

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas John Wood and others

Clem, Lieutenant of the 24th Infantry, writes to General Wood and other members of an executive committee organizing a reunion in Dayton, Ohio. Regretfully declines an invitation to attend a reunion 20 and 21 November, 1872. Writes, "I would rather miss any other reunion than the one at Dayton, as I have some very pleasant recollections of the place, besides the natural love for my native "Buckeye State."

GLC02467.10

20 October 1861

Kirkwood, Samuel Jordan, 1813-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major E. W. Rice

Kirkwood, Governor of Iowa 1860-1864, writes to Major Rice (possibly to Elliot Warren Rice of the 7th Regiment, Iowa Infantry). Relates, "I had heard before receiving your letter that some persons in your regiment had made difficulty in regard to your appointment as Major... In appointing you I exercised my best judgment and must trust to your activity, energy, & good conduct to vindicate my action. I cannot transfer you to another regiment if for no other reason because by so doing I would be encouraging a spirit of insubordination among officers of your regiment..." Previously…

GLC02467.16

3 July 1862

Pierpoint, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Egbert L. Viele

Pierpont writes to General Viele (spelled "Velie"), military governor of Norfolk, Virginia. Encloses a letter for Colonel Watson of Portsmouth, Virginia, "who is engaged in raising a Virginia regiment for U.S. Service" (letter not included). Written on Commonwealth of Virginia Executive Department, Wheeling, Virginia stationery.

GLC02467.19

7 June 1895

Root, George F. (George Frederick), 1820-1895

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Letter and lyrics of Root's song "Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys are marching"]

Root, an American songwriter, thanks Mr. Massett for poems, and transmits the lyrics of "Tramp," a song that became popular during the Civil War.

GLC02467.22

10 May 1863

Vallandigham, Clement L., 1820-1871

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Brooks

Two notes written in pencil (one beneath docket) indicate that this letter was written to Brooks, a U.S. Representative from New York and fellow Copperhead. Vallandigham, a former United States Senator from Ohio, had recently been arrested for treasonable remarks, and was held in military custody. Writes, "I have just read your speech as reported, (I believe) in the Journal of Commerce, & thank you ten thousand times for it. The whole country responds to you, & indeed, indeed it is time that it should. Not a moment is to be lost. I am still here 'awaiting orders!'- military…

GLC02467.28

1822-1874

Header Record

Title: Civil War statesmen: 33 letters & docs [decimalized]

GLC02469

5 July 1862

Randolph, George Wythe, 1818-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Alexander Wise

Randolph, Confederate Secretary of War, writes to general Wise, commanding a brigade at Chapin's Bluff, Virginia. Randolph orders Wise to discontinue the impressment of Union horses, and to send a record of horses taken, and from whom they were acquired. Reports, "Persons are waiting here for settlement without proper vouchers, and I must request by the courier such information as you can give."

GLC02469.18

15 May 1862

Reagan, John H. (John Henninger), 1818-1905

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Ruggles

Reagan, postmaster general of the Confederacy, informs General Ruggles that his letter of 23 April (accompanied by a letter from Ruggles's son and a sealed letter to Confederate President Jefferson Davis), have arrived. Relates that he will present the letters to President Davis, and hopes Ruggles's son will receive the appointment he seeks. Notes, "The Enemy's gun boats are in eight or ten miles of this place, and have been exchanging shots with our batteries yesterday and to-day." Written on Confederate States of America, Post Office Department stationery.

GLC02469.19

9 December 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: Amnesty proclamation and third annual message of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States ...

Title continues, " ... read in Congress, December 9, 1863." Early printing of the Amnesty Oath of December 8, 1863 which offered pardons to Confederates who would take a loyalty oath to the Constitution and to the Union of States. His third annual message presented a program for Reconstruction for the first time. With bookplate and deaccession stamp of Minnesota Historical Society on front cover.

GLC02536

5 March 1862

Wirz, Henry, 1823-1865

Autograph document signed

Title: [Special order: Arrest warrant from a Confederate state military prison]

Orders that John Thomas be brought to the prison "dead or alive." Signed by Wirz as Sergeant of Post, at the Confederate Military Prison at Tuscaloosa, before he was promoted to Commandant of Andersonville Prison, where he gained notoriety. Accompanied by a seller's undated manuscript note describing Wirz as "The Demon of Andersonville." One black and white bust engraving of Wirz included.

GLC02514

1 July 1863

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Manuscript document

Title: [Standing orders for the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg]

Clerical copy of the circular order for the Army of the Potomac for Gettysburg. Written before the battle took shape while Meade thought the major engagement would be fought at Harrisburg; orders a defensive stance. Explains the details this defensive position would take and provides specific orders for the movements of troops commanded by General Henry W. Slocum and General John F. Reynolds. Reprinted in Official Records Series I v. 27 pt. 3:458.

GLC02522

18 April 1865

Spinner, Francis Elias, 1802-1890

Printed document signed

Title: [Certificate of deposit by Kansas soldier donating his savings to the U.S. Government]

Partially printed certificate of the U.S. Treasury filled out by hand. Patriotic $50 donation by soldier Alfred T. Jackson of Co. D of the 1st Regiment of Kansas Mounted Infantry indicated to be the "amount of his savings as a soldier." Spinner was treasurer of the United States.

GLC02609

1837-1908

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Header Record

Title: Robert H. Stafford Collection [Decimalized .01- .98]

Stafford enlisted as a sergeant in the 12th Alabama infantry. Contains letters and newsclippings about the Peninsula Campaign, advance into Maryland, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Early's raid on Washington, D.C. Preliminary inventory included.

GLC02618

29 December 1862

Meister, C., fl. 1862

Map signed

Title: [Manuscript Civil War map of Murfreesboro, Tennessee]

Shows Murfreesboro and the areas north and west of it, along with names of property owners. Drawn shortly before the Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro), providing evidence that General Braxton Bragg originally planned to attack the Union forces from the left (the area north of Murfreesboro), but changed his mind on 30 December and attacked from the right the following day. Meister was assistant engineer and draftsman serving under Bragg. Accompanied by blank paper leaf.

GLC02588

November 1862-1865

Bettes, William H., fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of William H. Bettes, L company, 6th regiment, Ohio, cavalry] [decimalized]

This collection consists of fourteen letters written by William Henry Bettes. Eleven of these letters are written to Lodema Bettes, his wife, one letter is written to Charley Bettes, his son, one letter is written to Carrie Bettes, his daughter, and one letter is written to Lieutenant W. H. Betty. William H. Bettes enlisted on 5 October 1861 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was commissioned into Company L 6th Regiment Ohio Cavalry on the same date. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 16 December 1861 and was discharged for disability on 23 March 1863. Selected highlights include: Bette's…

GLC02596

12 April 1861

Whiting, William H., 1824-1865

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Memorandum of instructions for the troops tonight

Orders detailing preparations for a possible Union attack on Morris Island. Written at night on the same day the assault on Fort Sumter had begun. Part of the Confederate force for the assault on Fort Sumter was located on Morris Island.

GLC02600

13 April 1861

Whiting, William H., 1824-1865

Manuscript document

Title: to David R. Jones

Retained draft in secretarial hand for Whitings own files of a letter detailing the surrender of Fort Sumter. Describing attack on fort, says soon "Anderson's position will be untenable." Worries about a naval attack by Union forces, "more than probable that an attack will be made at night. States that at one p.m. "flagg staf shot away." At two p.m. reports the fort has "surrendered unconditionally to Brig. Gen. Beauregard," and again expresses worry about nearby Union ships. Though the Confederates at first believed that the surrender was unconditional, this was not the understanding of…

GLC02601